LASHMA moves to enforce mandatory Health Insurance scross Lagos hospitals
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has announced plans to commence full enforcement of mandatory health insurance across hospitals in the state, as part of efforts to expand coverage and strengthen financial protection for residents.
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, disclosed this during the agency’s First Quarter 2026 Healthcare Providers’ Engagement Meeting held in Alausa, Ikeja.
Dr. Zamba noted that while public sensitisation on the Mandatory Social Health Insurance Scheme has been ongoing for several months, the time has come for deliberate and structured enforcement across Lagos State. She explained that the meeting was convened to assess the preparedness of healthcare providers and to promote transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement within the health insurance value chain.
Represented by the Coordinator of Regulations, Mr. Tosin Awosika, she revealed that enforcement activities began in February 2026 across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Lagos State Government and will be expanded in phases to cover public and private healthcare facilities, as well as the informal and formal sectors.
She clarified that the enforcement initiative is not intended to penalise providers or residents but to ensure compliance with existing laws and protect citizens from catastrophic and out-of-pocket medical expenses. She emphasised that health insurance remains a critical financial protection mechanism for all residents.
According to her, with Lagos State’s population estimated at nearly 30 million, enrollment figures must significantly improve for the government to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She stressed that healthcare providers play a vital role in driving enrollment and urged facilities to establish functional enrollment desks to register uninsured patients.
Dr. Zamba also reiterated that under the Executive Order, patients must first be stabilised in life-threatening emergencies before any request for proof of health insurance. She advised that uninsured patients should either be enrolled at provider-led centres or directed to appropriate registration channels.
She further announced that LASHMA has commenced structured compliance and readiness visits to empanelled facilities, beginning with public institutions and extending to private facilities. The visits will assess operational readiness, enrollment systems, documentation standards, and adherence to scheme guidelines, while also addressing gaps in clinical documentation.
The Permanent Secretary urged healthcare providers to lead by example by enrolling their staff in the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan and reaffirmed collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). She encouraged stakeholder feedback to strengthen ongoing reforms, while the Provider Network Manager, Mrs. Bukola Badejo, commended participants and reiterated LASHMA’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and improved health outcomes in Lagos State.
